Nayra Jain
May 29, 2025
The earliest wheels were part of pottery-making tools, not vehicles. Invented around 3500 BCE in Mesopotamia, they were initially used in potter’s wheels before being applied to carts centuries later.
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Discovered in Slovenia, the Ljubljana Marshes Wheel dates back to around 3,200 BCE. Made of ash and oak, it offers crucial insights into early transportation and craftsmanship.
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When combined with animal traction, wheels enabled the creation of carts and wagons, transforming farming by increasing the efficiency of transporting goods and harvested crops.
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While Mesopotamians used solid wooden wheels, Egyptians and Greeks later developed spoked wheels, which were lighter and better suited for chariots and fast-moving vehicles.
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Wheels were integral to early mechanical inventions such as pulleys, water wheels, and gears—laying the foundation for modern machinery and industrialisation.
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Despite its significance, the wheel didn’t appear in the Americas until much later. Native American cultures lacked large domesticated animals, limiting the wheel’s practical use.
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The concept of rotating gears led to the invention of clocks. Complex gear wheels allowed accurate time measurement and powered early mechanical clocks in medieval Europe.
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The invention of vulcanised rubber by Charles Goodyear in 1839 revolutionised the wheel by enabling modern tyres, making rides smoother and vehicles faster and safer.
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Today’s cars use alloy wheels, anti-lock braking systems, and smart tyres with sensors—highlighting how wheel technology keeps evolving for performance and safety.
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Modern wheels aren’t limited to Earth. Rovers like NASA’s Perseverance use specially designed wheels to navigate the rough terrain of Mars and gather scientific data.
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